Visual Studio - vdproj is incompatible

I have a project in a solution I am working on in Visual Studio 2012, and I get this message for one of the projects: "This version of Visual Studio does not have the following project types installed, or does not support them." It is a vdproj. What does this mean and how do I resolve this problem

The correct procedure to resolve "Incompatible" issue with VDPROJ Projects coming from Visual Studio 2010 and 2015 in 2017 or 2019 is:

1. Enter Visual Studio .NET 2017 or 2019
2. • 2017: Click on "Tools" -> Extension and Updates -> Online
   • 2019: Click on "Extensions" -> Manage Extensions -> Online
3. Type "Installer Project" on the search box
4. Click on "Install" in Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Project
5. Restart Visual Studio .NET and follow the instructions to install the extension

With this extension the old project (2010, 2015) is capable to work in (2017, 2019). VDPROJ are not deprecated, simply they are improved with a new extension, for more information about this please visit the oficial MarketPlace.

There is also the official:

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Installer Projects
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Installer Projects
• Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Projects (2017 & 2019)
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 Installer Projects

if you can jump to VS 2013, 2015, 2017+2019, or 2022

But BozoJoe is right, its time to drop vdproj and move on to WiX.

vdproj is a MSI creation project for Visual Studio. Its been deprecated and most people have moved on to either WIX or NSIS or a professional grade installer creation tools such as Install Shield.

If you do not require an installer for your product just exclude the vdproj project from the solution and continue with your life

for fun if you want to try to transition right away to wix, try this powershell script https://github.com/chrisoldwood/vdproj2wix

Visual Studio 2017 can use the Visual Studio Installer. It is NOT a default. You have to run InstallerProjects.vsix. You can get it at Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 Installer Projects. I have used it and worked great, at least for a windows GUI project. It's worth a shot before you get into the Install Shield intricacies.

if You use Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Project (Vs2017). Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Project may be disabled after an update.

• Tools -> Extensions and Updates..
• Click Installed
• Find and Select -> Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Project
• do Enable
• Restart Visual Studio